How to Become a Freelance Creative: A Practical Guide for Designers and Illustrators
Moving into freelance work can be exciting, but it also changes your relationship with creativity.
You’re no longer just doing the work. You’re also finding clients, pricing projects, managing cash flow, writing proposals, handling feedback, keeping track of invoices and deciding where your business is headed next.
That doesn’t mean freelancing has to feel overwhelming...
How to Start Illustrating: Drawing Tips for Beginners
If you’re just starting out with illustration, there’s a lot to take in.
You might be figuring out which tools to use, how to improve your drawing skills, what kind of work you enjoy making, or whether illustration is something you eventually want to pursue professionally…
Mastering Cold Outreach: How to Land Your Next Big Illustration or Design Client
Whether you’re early in your career or several years in, relying entirely on clients to find you can make freelance work feel unpredictable.
Outreach gives you a little more control.
But that doesn’t mean sending generic emails to hundreds of people or forcing yourself into a sales style that doesn’t feel natural.
The most effective outreach is usually much simpler…
Why Every Creative Should Be Using Pinterest (and How to Maximise Your Reach)
If you’re a designer, illustrator, or creative running your own business, you’re probably already juggling enough.
Client work.
Admin.
Social media.
Marketing.
Trying to keep your portfolio updated.
So when you spend time promoting your work, you want it to keep doing something after you hit publish.
That’s one of the biggest reasons I keep coming back to Pinterest.
Font Psychology: How Typography Shapes Perception
Ever wondered why some fonts make you feel a certain way? The right font can make all the difference in your design. Whether you're crafting a logo, designing a website, or creating social media graphics, understanding font psychology is key…
Vector Graphics 101: Why They Matter in Design
Vector graphics are one of the most useful tools in a designer’s workflow.
They’re flexible, easy to edit and can be scaled to almost any size without losing quality, which makes them ideal for everything from logos and icons to illustrations, packaging and brand systems.
If you’ve ever wondered why designers often prefer working in vector format, here’s what makes them so useful…
Time Management Tips for Freelance Creatives: Staying Productive and Balanced
For many freelance creatives, managing time can feel like an endless juggling act. Between multiple projects, client deadlines, and maintaining a personal life, the days can easily feel too short. I’ve been there. In the early years of my business, I often found myself working late into the night or sacrificing weekends to catch up…
What’s on My Desk: Tools I Use Daily as a Designer and Illustrator
Your desk is more than just a place to work. It’s where ideas spark, designs take shape, and creativity flows. As a designer and illustrator, having a workspace that’s functional, comfortable, and inspiring can make a huge difference to your process and output.
In this post, I’m giving you a peek at my current desk setup and sharing the tools I reach for every day…
10 Best Skillshare Courses for Improving Your Design or Illustration Skills
Skillshare is one of my favourite ways to keep upskilling as a creative, and it's something I've used for years to stay sharp, explore new techniques, and push my work in new directions. Whether you’re looking to deepen your illustration skills, get better at branding, or explore motion design, here’s a curated list of 10 top-rated Skillshare classes for designers and illustrators.
How to Apply to Illustration Agents: Everything You Need to Know
Navigating the world of illustration can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it comes to expanding your opportunities and finding the right clients. This is where an illustration agent can become an invaluable ally. But how do you apply to an agent, and what should you expect when working with one?
How to Get More Client Work as a Designer or Illustrator (Without Going Viral or Posting Daily)
I spend a lot of time speaking with illustrators and designers who are trying to grow their business.
And the most common struggle I hear? Finding consistent work.
Not just one-off projects, but reliable clients that keep things moving month after month. And while there’s no magic formula, I’ve found this to be true…
Soft Skills vs. Talent: What Really Makes a Designer Successful Today
There’s a moment in every designer’s career where you realise something quietly unsettling: your talent isn’t the thing that wins the project.
Why the World's Best Brands Are Paying Humans to Make Things by Hand
The most recognised brands in the world are commissioning illustration. Not as a nostalgic nod to the past, or a trend they've decided to test. As a deliberate, strategic choice.
That's worth sitting with for a moment…
Design Is Communication: Why Every Visual Decision Sends a Message
There’s a moment in every designer’s journey where you realise the work isn’t really about making things “pretty.” It’s not even about aesthetics…
Why Clients Aren’t Responding to Your Emails (And How to Fix It)
If you've ever felt like you're sending outreach emails into the void, you're not alone. One of the most common frustrations I hear from designers and illustrators is: "I'm doing the work, I'm reaching out... but no one's responding."
Recently, I spoke to an illustrator in exactly this position…
10 Essential Tips to Optimise Your Portfolio and Attract More Clients
Your portfolio is more than just a collection of your work; it’s your first impression and one of the most powerful tools for attracting new clients…
Top 10 Books Every Creative Business Owner Should Read
Running a creative business means juggling artistry, strategy, and systems, all while trying to stay inspired and avoid burnout. Whether you're a designer, illustrator, or creative entrepreneur, the right book can be a game-changer for your mindset and momentum…
5 Common Reasons Creatives Struggle to Get Work: And How to Fix Them
It’s one of the most frustrating experiences for any creative: you're showing up, doing the work, putting yourself out there… and still not seeing results. No new clients. No replies. No leads.
Recently, I spoke to an illustrator who was in exactly that place. She was updating her portfolio, posting on social media, sending outreach emails, but nothing was landing. She was starting to wonder if it was time to give up.
But the truth is, she was much closer than she thought…
Creative Burnout Is Real: 4 Ways to Protect Your Energy and Stay Inspired
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It creeps in slowly… so slowly that at first, it might not even register. One day, you’re energised by every project that comes your way. The next, you’re staring blankly at your screen, wondering why the work you once loved now feels like a chore…
What Actually Grows a Creative Business (And What Doesn’t)
When I decided to become a full-time illustrator, I had no idea if I’d make it. I just knew I had to try, because I didn’t want to look back and wonder, what if?
It wasn’t easy. There were times I questioned everything: if I was good enough, if I could earn a steady living, if it was even worth it. I poured all my time into chasing work, trying every strategy I could think of, hoping something would stick.
But nothing felt stable.
Then something shifted, and that’s when everything began to change…